Escrofuloderma en paciente pediátrico / Scrofuloderma in a pediatric patient

La tuberculosis (TB) cutánea es una forma rara de tuberculosis extrapulmonar y puede tener diversas manifestaciones clínicas. La afectación cutánea puede producirse como resultado de inoculación exógena, diseminación contigua desde un foco de infección, o mediante la propagación hematógena desde un foco distante 1. Las formas multibacilares de localización cutánea siguen siendo, con mucho, las más comunes en los niños 2. La tuberculosis cutánea representa sólo el 1-2% de las formas extrapulmonares de TB. Se clasifica en varias variantes, y la escrofulodermia es una forma de tuberculosis endógena. Afecta a personas de todas las edades, sin embargo, los niños, los adolescentes y los ancianos se ven muy afectados, debido a la incapacidad inmunológica para contener la infección por micobacterias. La escrofulodermia puede presentarse de forma aislada o coexistir con formas pulmonares y diseminadas de TB. Se presenta como nódulos eritematosos que se fistulizan y descargan material caseoso y purulento 3. Los exámenes patológicos revelan abscesos, necrosis y granulomas de tipo tuberculoide (3). La correlación clínica, biológica, patológica y, a veces, la progresión con el tratamiento antibacilar son la clave del diagnóstico 2

Cutaneous tuberculosis (TB) is a rare form of extrapulmonary tuberculosis that can have diverse clinical manifestations. Cutaneous involvement may occur as a result of exogenous inoculation, contiguous dissemination from a focus of infection, or by hematogenous spread from a distant focus (1). Multibacillary forms of cutaneous localization remain by far the most common in children (2). Children and the elderly are greatly affected due to immunological inability to contain the mycobacterial infection. Scrofuloderma can occur in isolation or coexist with pulmonary and disseminated forms of TB. It presents with erythematous nodules that fistulize and discharge caseous and purulent material (3). Anatomopathological examinations reveal abscesses, necrosis and tuberculoid granulomas (3). Clinical, biological, pathological correlation and sometimes progression with antibacillary treatment are the key to diagnosis (2)

Escrofuloderma, una manifestación extrapulmonar de tuberculosis: a propósito de un caso y actualización de esquema de tratamiento en Chile / Scrofuloderma, a manifestation extrapulmonary tuberculosis: about a case and treatment scheme update in Chile

La tuberculosis (TBC) es una enfermedad infecciosa causada por organismos del complejo Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Las presentaciones extrapulmonares constituyen hasta el 25% de los casos de TBC reportados en nuestro país. La TBC cutánea es una manifestación extrapulmonar rara que representa el 1-2% de los casos, siendo el escrofuloderma y el lupus vulgar las formas clínicas más comunes. El escrofuloderma es una manifestación endógena de la infección, como resultado de la extensión contigua a la piel suprayacente desde estructuras adyacentes. La biopsia de piel asociada a técnicas moleculares y cultivo de micobacterias constituyen el gold standard diagnóstico de la TBC cutánea. El tratamiento de la TBC cutánea sigue las mismas recomendaciones que para otras formas de TBC. Presentamos el caso de un paciente con escrofuloderma.

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by organisms of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. Extrapulmonary presentations may constitutes up to 25% of TB cases. Reported in our country Cutaneous tuberculosis is a rare extrapulmonary manifestation that represents 1-2% of cases, with scrofuloderma and lupus vulgaris being the most common clinical forms. Scrofuloderma is an endogenous manifestation of the infection, because of contiguous extension to the overlying skin from adjacent structures. Skin biopsy associated with molecular techniques and mycobacterial culture constitute the gold standard for diagnosis of cutaneous TB. The treatment of cutaneous TB follows the same recommendations as for other forms of TB. We present the case of a patient with scrofuloderma.

Tuberculose cutânea forma escrofuloderma: relato de caso / Scrofuloderma-shaped cutaneous tuberculosis: case report

Introdução: A tuberculose (TB) é uma doença infecciosa causada pela bactéria Mycobacterium tuberculosis, transmitida a partir da via aérea de pacientes com a forma pulmonar ou laríngea, que atinge cerca de 10 milhões de pessoas no mundo por ano. A forma pulmonar é a mais comum, sendo a TB cutânea responsável por 1,5% dos casos. Descrição do caso: Paciente 58 anos, masculino, apresentando síndrome consumptiva e abscessos em flanco direito, região pré-esternal e hemitórax direito há 60 dias, sem febre ou outros sintomas associados. Ao exame, apresentava lesão fibroelástica com aspecto similar a escrofuloderma. Análise histopatológica evidenciou processo inflamatório inespecífico sem sinais de malignidade. Cultura para fungos negativa e houve positivação da cultura para M. tuberculosis. Discussão: A TB cutânea é uma forma de apresentação rara de TB. Sua forma escrofuloderma é a mais observada em países em desenvolvimento. A lesão do escrofuloderma pode ser única ou múltipla. Todo paciente deve ser submetido a pesquisa de foco de TB subjacente, sendo a coexistência com um processo pulmonar ativo relativamente comum. O tratamento da TB cutânea inclui medidas gerais e terapia farmacológica por seis meses. Conclusão: A tuberculose continua sendo uma doença prevalente em todo mundo. O Brasil está entre os 30 países de alta carga de TB, considerados como prioritários no mundo para controle da doença pela OMS. Nesse contexto, reconhecer as formas de apresentação da doença se torna cada vez mais importante. Devemos sempre nos lembrar da TB como um diagnóstico diferencial em nosso meio.

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, transmitted from the airways of patients with pulmonary or laryngeal forms, which affects around 10 million people worldwide each year. The pulmonary form is the most common, with cutaneous TB responsible for 1.5% of cases. Case description: A 58-year-old male patient, with consumptive syndrome and abscesses on the right flank, pre-sternal region and right hemithorax for 60 days, without fever or other associated symptoms. Upon physical examination, he presented fibroelastic lesion with an aspect similar to scrofuloderma. Histopathological analysis showed a nonspecific inflammatory process with no signs of malignancy. Culture for bacteria and fungi were negatives, while the culture for M. tuberculosis was positive. Discussion: Cutaneous TB is a rare form of TB. Its scrofuloderma form is the most observed in developing countries. The scrofuloderma lesion can be single or multiple. In every single patient, the underlying TB focus survey should be performed, coexistence with an active pulmonary process being relatively common. The cutaneous TB treatment includes general measures and pharmacological therapy for six months. Conclusion: Tuberculosis remains a prevalent disease worldwide. Brazil is among the 30 countries with a high TB load, considered as priorities in the world for the control of the disease by WHO. In this context, recognizing the forms of presentation of the disease becomes increasingly important. We must always remember TB as a differential diagnosis in our environment.

Tuberculosis cutánea: casuística del Servicio de Dermatología del Hospital Nacional / Cutaneous tuberculosis: casuistry of the Dermatology Service of the Hospital Nacional

RESUMEN Introducción: la tuberculosis cutánea no es frecuente y el diagnóstico es difícil por presentar varias formas clínicas, ninguna especifica de la enfermedad, y pueden requerir varios estudios laboratoriales para confirmarlo. Objetivos: realizar una revisión de los casos de tuberculosis cutánea observados en el Servicio de Dermatología del Hospital Nacional en el periodo 1990 - 2019; determinando sus características demográficas, clínicas, laboratoriales y evolutivas. Metodología: estudio retrospectivo, descriptivo y observacional. Resultados: se diagnosticaron 7 casos; 5 hombres y 2 mujeres; con edades que oscilaban de 4 meses a 74 años y 3 eran nativos. Las formas clínicas fueron escrofuloderma y gomosa en 3 casos; verrugosa en 1. Todos tenían compromiso sistémico (pulmonar en 3 casos, óseo en 2 y ganglionar en 4) y también factores de inmunodepresión, predominando la desnutrición. En 3 casos el diagnóstico se confirmó con el cultivo de lesiones de piel que reportó Mycobacterium tuberculosis en 2 y M. bovis en 1. Los otros casos se diagnosticaron por hallazgos de bacilos ácido - alcohol resistentes en piel u otros órganos, anatomía patológica compatible y respuesta al tratamiento. Todos recibieron el tratamiento específico de la enfermedad con buena respuesta a excepción de un caso con inmunodeficiencia severa que falleció. Conclusiones: la tuberculosis cutánea es rara también en nuestro Servicio, pero su diagnóstico representa un desafío importante y además acompaña a afectación sistémica, por lo que el tratamiento debe ser oportuno.

ABSTRACT Introduction: cutaneous tuberculosis is not frequent and the diagnosis is difficult because it presents several clinical forms, none specific of the disease, and may require several laboratory studies to confirm it. Objectives: to carry out a review of the cases of cutaneous tuberculosis observed in the Dermatology Service of Hospital Nacional in the period 1990 - 2019; determining their demographic, clinical, laboratory and evolutionary characteristics. Methodology: retrospective, descriptive and observational study. Results: 7 cases were diagnosed; 5 men and 2 women; with ages ranging from 4 months to 74 years and 3 were native. The clinical forms were scrofuloderma and gummy in 3 cases; warty in 1. All had systemic involvement (lung in 3 cases, bone in 2 and lymph node in 4) and also immunosuppressive factors, predominantly malnutrition. In 3 cases, the diagnosis was confirmed by the culture of skin lesions that reported Mycobacterium tuberculosis in 2 and M. bovis in 1. The other cases were diagnosed by findings of acid-fast bacilli in skin or other organs, compatible pathological anatomy and response to treatment. All received specific treatment for the disease with a good response, except for one case with severe immunodeficiency that died. Conclusions: cutaneous tuberculosis is also rare in our Department, but its diagnosis represents a significant challenge and also accompanies systemic involvement, so treatment must be timely.

Escrofuloderma: la tuberculosis olvidada / Scrofuloderma: the forgotten tuberculosis

INTRODUCCIÓN: La escrofuloderma es una manifestación extrapulmonar de la tuberculosis, siendo su incidencia menor al 1 por ciento de los casos de tuberculosis no pulmonar. Actualmente, la escrofuloderma se presenta con mayor frecuencia en personas inmunocomprometidas o en pacientes que viven en condición de hacinamiento, recintos tales como hogares de ancianos, cárceles o en viviendas de estratos socioeconómicos más bajos. PRESENTACIÓN DEL CASO: A continuación, se presenta el caso de un paciente de 29 años que vive en condiciones de hacinamiento en un recinto penitenciario. Es derivado a policlínico de Medicina Broncopulmonar para estudio con fibrobroncoscopía ante la sospecha de tuberculosis pulmonar. Se pesquisa lesión nodular subcutánea supurativa, asociada a placas cicatriciales rojo-violáceas que, según contexto del paciente, características de las lesiones y resultado de biopsia se diagnosticaron como escrofuloderma. Se inició tratamiento antituberculoso con buena respuesta clínica de las lesiones cutáneas. DISCUSIÓN: Debido al proceso de eliminación que está sufriendo la tuberculosis en Chile, las manifestaciones extrapulmonares de la tuberculosis, entre ellas las cutáneas, representan hoy en día un desafío diagnóstico principalmente por el bajo índice de sospecha que se tiene sobre ellas.

INTRODUCTION: Scrofuloderma is a manifestation of extrapulmonary tuberculosis, being its incidence less than 1 percent of the non-pulmonary cases. Nowadays, scrofuloderma is presented more frequently in immunosuppressed people or in patients living in overcrowded conditions, in enclosures such as nursing homes, prisons or houses from the lowest socioeconomic status. CASE REPORT: We present a clinical case of a 29-year-old patient living in overcrowded conditions in a penitentiary facility. The patient is referred to the neumology Outpatients Unit for study with fibrobronchoscopy for suspected pulmonary tuberculosis. A nodular subcutaneous suppurative lesion is found, associated to purpurish red cicatricial plaques that according to the clinical context of the patient, characteristics of the lesions and biopsy results, were diagnosed as scrofuloderma. Antituberculosis treatment was initiated, with a positive clinical response of the skin lesions. DISCUSSION: Due to the process of elimination that tuberculosis is suffering in Chile, the extrapulmonary manifestations, being the cutaneous manifestations among them, represent a diagnosis challenge principally because of the low index of suspicion.